Tourniquet



Aug. 16, 1955 E. J. TUCKER 2,715,403

TOURNIQUET Filed June 7, 1954 23 E/i dora/0x7 Tucker INVENTOR.

23 ATTORNEY United States Patent O TOURNIQUET Eli Jordan Tucker,Houston, Tex.

Appiication June 7, 1954, Serial No. 434,873

7 Claims. (Ci. 12S-327) This invention relates to a tourniquet which isreadily and positively applicable to an injured member of the body, as aleg, arm, and the like to exert pressure upon such member between thepoint of injury and the heart until bandaging and stoppage of bleedingmay be effected.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide such a tourniquetconstructed of rigid, non-corrosive parts positively operable uponapplication to exert pressure on the part to which applied, suchtourniquet being equipped with a gauge assembly which is adapted toincrease the pressure or tourniquet application by increments while suchpressure can be constantly observed in measurement.

lt is another object of this invention to provide a tourniquet having agauge which increases or diminishes the tcurniquet pressure whilerendering a measured indication of such pressure.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a tourniquet of thisclass which is constructed of corrosion resistant, non-infectious parts,as parts of stainless steel and the like, which are operable topositively apply and maintain a tourniquet pressure to an injured memberwithout damaging such member, as by causing tourniquet paralysis rnecrosis of the fat tissue at the points Where excessive pressure hasbeen applied.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tourniquet havingarcuate, injured member embracing parts which overextend each other at aspaced apart distance whereby a base of force distribution is providedopposite the pivotal connection of the tourniquet arms, therebyobviating the tendency of the tourniquet to roll or slide upon theinjured member.

lt is still another object of this invention to provide a tourniquet ofthis class having a gauge pivotally connected to one tourniquet arm andadapted to shoulder upon the other tourniquet arm along an arcuatesurface thereof, so that the angle between the gauge and the tourniquetarm to which the gauge is pivotally connected may Vary in degree inaccordance with the pressure applied and in accordance with thevariation in the subtended angle between the tourniquet handles.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the descriptionhereinbelow is considered in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which:

Figure l is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a tourniqnet is shown includingtourniquet arms 11 and 12, which are pivotally connected as by athreaded pin or screw 14, with end peened or riveted opposite the headthereof to prevent loss and to maintain assembly. The arms 11 and 12each include a handle portion 15 and 15, respectively, and arcuate,tourniqueted member embracing portions 16', 16, respectively. Inassembly, the portions 16', 16 oppose each other as best indicated inFigure l, so as to f'- 2,715,403 ce Patented Aug. 16, 1955 bound a spaceof substantially oval cross section, as will be the shape of a member ofthe body after tourniqueting force has been applied thereto. Incross-section, the portions 16', 16 are preferably round to avoidunnecessary angles of force application at points of body contact.

To avoid against the tourniquet rolling or slipping upon the member towhich applied, the arcuate portions 16', 16 are curved so that the arm12, which may overlie the arm 11 at the point of pivotal connection,will provide the arcuate portion 16 which underextends arcuate portion16', of the arm 11 in the area of the over-crossing part 23, which isspaced from the over-crossing part 23 of the arcuate portion 16'. Thus,on the side of the tourniquet opposite the pivot point, the body membercontacting parts of the tourniquet are spaced apart along a line normalto the general plane of the tourniquet, thereby providing a base insteadof a point of pressure application opposite such pivot point.

The handle portion extends iirst in a plane or straight part 17 from thepivot 14 and then has an oset part 17' which forms a connection to agrip 1S. The tourniquet handle 1S has a part 19 which extends in a planeor straight from the pivot 14 and then is offset at 19 to form theconnection to an arcuate part 20, from which extends the grip 21. Thedegrees of offset provided by the parts 19 and 17 are such that the grip18 and the grip 21 will extend past each other if the handles arebrought together to completely close the tourniquet. The arcuate part 20of the handle 15 has slot 21 therein and a gauge 24 has an end partwhich is pivotally connected at 26 to the part 17 ofthe arm 11. Suchgauge end 25 continues as a mandrel 27 and extends through the slot 21and outwardly therefrom, the mandrel 27 being threaded over its length2S from a point adjacent its pivotal connection to the outer endthereof. The threads 29 of such mandrel are of the flat or Acme profileand are particularly tempered for purposes to be described hereinbelow.

A sleeve 30 slides over the mandrel 27 and has a shoulder 31 thereon tobear against the arcuate part 20, while a prong 32 on such sleeve and oflesser width than the slot 21 extends through the slot 21 and hastherein a pin 33 extending thereacross to act as a stop against the part20. This is effected since the pin 33 is of greater length than thetransverse width of the slot 21 so that the ends of the pin will bearupon the arcuate part 20 at each side of the slot to thus maintain thesleeve 30 connected to the tourniquet assembly. A set screw 34 extendsaxially into the end of the prong 32 to bear against the pin 33 andmaintain such pin in the prong 32 against sliding laterally.

The sleeve 30 provides an internal shoulder'35 therein to form a seatfor a spring 36 which extends around the mandrel. A plunger 37 extendsaround the mandrel 27 and into the outer end of the sleeve 30, which hasa slot 37 therein. A pointer 38 rides upon the sleeve 30 outwardly ofthe slot 37 and is connected to the inner end of the plunger 38 by meansof set screw means 39. A nut 40 is threaded upon the mandrel threads 29.It has end face 41 to bear upon the outer end of plunger 37 and as thenut 40 is further threaded upon the mandrel 27 the plunger 37 will moveagainst the pressure of the spring 36 in direction of the handle 15 whenthe tourniquet is applied upon a body member.

The application of pressure is obvious, Since the resistance of the bodymember against the tightening of the arcuate portions 16, 16 issuiciently great to cause the inward motion of the plunger 37 tocompress the spring 36 as the nut end bears against the plunger to movewith relation to the sleeve 30, with the consequence that the pointer 39moves with relation to index marks 42 on the sleeve 30 as the spring iscompressed. By experimentation and empiricism, the indicia marks 42 are1ocatedrto represent poundsrof'pressure applied, and thus,

aswthery surgeonor operator tightensup Y on l the nut 40,-'

the movement of the handle 39 inwardly toward the han- -dle indicatesaccurately the value of the pressure as suchpressurelisiincreased."

Thelshbulder 431 is of a -con'gurati'on to move downf Wardlyalngtheaouter face -offthel arcuatepart-201as" thezpressure'lis increased,orto recede outwardlyalong suchf-part as Lpressurelmaybe decreased, thuspermittingthe anglelbetween thegmandrel 27'and handle. 15c to varyasthefsub'tendedfanglefvaries'between the handles 15;

and-15 as Vthe itourniquet is tightened In' orderito'rpermit the removalofthe nut -40eand' of'l theA otherx gaugefparts; thebcapI -or -head 43onthef end of the mandrel f- 2T is threadablyl removable therefromsoA`thatlthe nut 40=maypass -over f thel threadsl29`A Because the-"sleeve30andthe plunger 37' mustA slidev over! they thread'si 29,'.` it is of;importance--thatthese threads` are-A especiall'yftetnperedand ofat orAcme type'shape, as= statedhereinabove, in order towithstand anyabradingorbulrfringlwhichmigh't otherwise occurin continualfusage.V Theends 45 and 45 of the arcuate portionsf 16,A 16 respectively, arecurvedoutwardly atan angleto such por tions as vshown?infFigure- 1for=the purposeof'avoiding;

abruptend'contactwiththe body member embraced inl thefcourseofinstallation, operation, orremoval.

In providing'a tourniquet of Ythis class, objections to the=priorartiare -obviated, such as vthe objection tothedeterioration of"pneumaticallyoperated 'tourniquets constructedof'rubber, in whichthereis likelihood of an 'unequalappl'ication and lossof pressure due toleakagey orfrubber deterioration.

tourniquetted'member; which might otherwiseV take'place withsuchpneumatic# devices; Also, it is possible` to accurately; and4 positivelygauge the pressure applied,

increase andi-decrease such pressure, and observe such"rpressurewithfaccuracy at all times, as isnot the case:

withr other devices of the general class wherein inaccuracies occur ingauges measuringfluid-or. pneumatic pres-- decrease, the application` offorceA to the: tourniquetted" body member While at the sametimeindicatingrthespressureapplied.` It is-assertedV that the' broadspiritoths.

invention is not' limitedT to the embodiment described andi shownlinilthe drawings attached hereto :but many` othertvariations :andmodications are stated to fall within the"broad1scope ofrsuch inventionand withiny the. broad scope claimed and merited for the appendedclaims'.`

What is': claimed A-is:.

l. A? tourniquet: comprising two pivotally. connected' arms Aeaoh'having.handle portions with"v grips. at oneend. thereof. and theepivot'lsupportedl at the .other end; thereof'l and; anarcuate, tourniquetted.memberA embracingfpor-` tion'ionzthe opposite-.sideof saidpivotvfromsaidlhandle.l

portion,.said'armsfbeing assembled'with arcuate portions:

iur-opposition to boundfaspace of substantially. oval crosssecton, algauge pivotally. connectedlto one handlepor.- tion.` and;extending:pasttherother handle portion fand in-y cluding:aishoulderfto-bearthereagainst, a1 force apply:-

in'g: memberY tendingilto force said otherl handle .portion-vv towardsaid first handle portionto therebyVy tighten the grasp@ ofisaid'tourniquettedi memberembracingLportions, aniindicia,1 on saidgauge, and a.- pointer; movable. withv saidf'force applying member andwith relation tosaid indicia= tolindicatethe pressureapplied by saidembracing portions:

2 A.' tourniquet comprising two 'pivotally connected arms`eacli having`a handle portion andan' arcuate, tournqu'etted member? embracingportion, said'l arms Also therigidity of the parts on*- this invention,.and-the spacingapart 'of the over-crossingV` parts of thel arcuateportions prevent slippage along .the`

being pivotally connected between said handle and arcuate-portions andso assembled -that'assaidvhandlesare drawn together said arcuateportions are tightened upon said embraced member, a gauge including amandrel pivotally connected to one of said handle portions and extendingpast the other handle portion, a sleeve connected to said other handleportion and extending over said mandrel and having an inner 'end to bearupon said other handle portion andan internal shoulder adjacent saidinner end, a springY extending around said mandrel and bearing inwardlyupon said/internal-shoulder, a slot in the wall of said sleeve, aplunger extending around said mandrel with'inner-end to bear'upon saidspring, an indicia on said sleeve, a pointer connected to said plungerthrough said slot and a nut threadable upon said mandrel to bearinwardly upon said plunger against the tension of said spring to forcesaid handle portions together and tighten the embrace of said arcuateportions as said pointervmoves-withrelation to'said 'indicia to indicatethe pressure applied toV- said embraced fmember.

3? A tourniquetcomprisingtwo pivotally'connectedv armsv each having a:handleI portion and an Y arcuate,V tourniquetted memberembracingportion,y said arms being pivotally'v connected between ysaidh'andle andarcuate portions'v and so-assembledthat as said handles are drawn'together saidrarcuate-portionsrnoretightly embrace said tourniquettedYmember,v and ar-glauge-connectedto'one handle portion Vand-bearinglagainst the other handle portionfand `adaptedE tolapplyforcev to-drawsaid handlestogetherY and including an indicia and' a pointer movablewithfrelation ythereto as said'force is applied -soth'a-t saidpointerrindicates thepressnre applied-fto-said embraced" member.

4. A tourniquet comprising two pivota-ll-yY connected arms eachhavingahandie portion-andan arcuate, tourniquetted Imember* embracingfpcrtion,said arms beingf pivotally connected i between said handle and arcuateportionsandso assembled-that as-saidhandles-are drawnl togethersaidiarcuateJ portions more` tightlyembrace said-v tourniquetted-member,andla gaugefcennected to one-f handle'. portion z and bearing againstfthe other handle-,Aportion and adapted to apply( forcetofdrawsaidhandles`| together and includingfan indicia andvaY-p'ointermovableWithlrelation thereto as-saidforce is applied so thatfsaid"` pointer'indicatesthe pressure appliedto-fsaid embraced member, said"arcnateportions contacting said embraced f memberinwspaced apart.Yrelationon'the opposite side thereof' from saidpivot to prevent Zsaidtourniquetfrom rolling or sliding on said embraced Amember;

5. A'. tourniquet; comprising two pivotally. connected arms: each havingauf handle portion i and? an.. arcuate, tourniquettedv member'embracingportion, said arms being: pivotallyf. connectedl ybetween [said handleandarcuateportions and: soassembledFth-at: ascsaid handles arel dra-Wntogether'saiduaronate portions more; tightly embracev saidf'tourniquetted'frnernb'er, and? aiy gaugev connected to= one' handleportion tand .1 bearing aga'u'istthe other handle portion and adapted toapply force to draw:z saidhandles together. andincludingemeansrelatively. movable as.said force: is applied ltorindicatethe` pressureapplied: toxsaidA embraced member.

6. Av tourniquet. comprising:r two' pivotally.I connected arms eachhaving a handle portion and a tourniquetteds member embracing portion;saidVv arms.. being pivota'lly connected between said handle and arcuateportionstand. so assembled/thatY as lsaid .handles are-drawn together;said portions more tightly embrace said tourniquetted 'rnemb'eig^ andmeans connectedfto one `handle portion y and f bearin g againsttheother.I handlev portion andy including `threadt engagedvmeansrelatively' movable to drawsaidfhandles together tothereby-increasethepressure of said portions onk said' embraced member;andalso includingmeansadapted 'to *indicateV the 'pressure beingVapplied 7. A' tourniquet comprising two'pivotally connected. armseachhaving an extendingportion and a tourniquetted member embracingportion, said arms being pivotally connected between the extendingportions and the tourniquetted member embracing portions thereof and soassembled that as said extending portions are drawn together saidtourniquetted member embracing portions more tigbtiy embrace saidmember, said tourniquet including means connected to one extendingportion and adjustably bearing against the other extending portion andadapted to indicate the pressure being applied to said member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 1,957,992Cohen May 3, 1934

